Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said Thursday that the department opened the criminal investigation after another gang made the allegation in court. In his testimony this week, Francisco Real claimed the deputies concealed drugs in a bedroll at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic and sneaked them into the cell of Rigoberto Perez.

One of the accused deputies, Carlos Restrepo, was investigated six years ago for a similar allegation.

Perez was a leader of the Drew Street gang and is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of federal gang and drug charges.